Stanley Vernon Maurer.

But better known to me as Granddad.

My Granddad passed away on April 20, and since he's just been on my mind a lot...I thought I'd jot it all down.

My Granddad was born on April 21, 1930.  He was the youngest of 3...just like me.

He spent some time in the Army and married my Grandma Sally.

While stationed in Alabama, they had my Daddy.

My Granddad made his living as a music teacher, with Grandma as a librarian.

However, my Granddad had a business brain and started up multiple tour boat businesses in PA, FL, and SC...(which is where my family comes in.)

Granddad started up some boats on Hilton Head Island, Daddy was done with school at FSU, so there our family took root and we've been there ever since. :)

I've always had a special bond with Granddad.

He has just always been a part of my life and I knew he supported me, loved me, and would do anything for me.

So bear with me as I take a walk down memory lane and share some of my favorite moments of my Granddad...if I can see the screen as I am already welling up.

*This is one of my favorite pictures of Granddad and I.  He taught me what a cow says.  I remember that green chair so well.  I will always remember crawling up on his lap and reading books or watching TV.

*When I was home-schooled in K-2, Granddad always took me one day a week.  Daddy would take me to the harbor with him and Granddad would pick me up from there.  We would go straight to PJ's deli right there in the harbor and get a toasted bagel with cream cheese.  Then in between my bites he would let me play on the playground.  He said it was my PE class.  We charted out an obstacle course on the playground and every week I would race myself and he would time me.  He always said I beat my previous time.  But now I wonder if he just told me that and he never really timed it at all. :) Next we would go back to their house and I would get my classwork done.  I can very distinctly remember doing sentence phrasing while the OJ Simpson trial was on.  Then it was lunch time.  We would always go to Burger King and I would always get chicken fingers.  And we would always sit in the exact same booth.  I remember one time there were some construction workers sitting in our booth so we just waited until they left.  I also remember Grandma taking me to Burger King and she tried to sit in that booth with me and I said, "Nope.  That's Granddad's and my booth.  We can't sit there."  After lunch Granddad would take me back to the harbor and Mama would pick me up.  I really treasure those school days with Granddad.

*Our family would go to my grandparent's house every Sunday for dinner!  We always sat in the same spots and Mama always got her special plate because that plate did not make her teeth hurt when she used a knife on it.  Some Sundays, Mama and Daddy would let us take Matey, our beloved dog, with us.  Grandma wasn't too fond of it, so it was sparingly.  Whenever we would come through the door we could hear Granddad say "Hello!" from the living room and Grandma say "Hello!" from the kitchen.  (That's where I'm pretty sure they both spent the majority of their time.)  Then Matey would come around the corner and Granddad would laugh and say, "Oh!  It's the Granddog!"

*When we would sit down at this Sunday dinner every week, Granddad would start with the same things.  He would sit down at the head of the table and say, "Well...everything looks very good, girls."  He would ask someone to pray.  But he never closed his eyes, which made me laugh when I was little. Then after the prayer he would ask us to give him a school report.

*After these dinners, Granddad and Daddy watched 60 Minutes.  If one of us came in and started talking Granddad would say, "It's quiet hour!"  He was always joking with us, but it's stuck.  Now Daddy says it.  But Daddy has like 20 out of the 24 hours of the day as "quiet hour."  He just says it whenever. :)

*Granddad got me a gun for my 8th birthday.  My mother was not happy.

*At my grandparent's property in FL, they have a golf cart.  When I was around 12, Granddad told me he was going to teach me how to drive it and then give me a test.  If I passed the test, I would get my own golf cart license.  Thankfully, I passed, so I got my own golf cart license...scribbled down on a yellow sheet of paper.

*It was hard on our grandparents when my sisters and I all came out to Utah for school.  Whenever we would call them in FL Granddad typically answered the phone.  He said "Hello!" with the emphasis on the first syllable, not the second like most do.  Then this is how the beginning of our conversations would go down:

"Hi Granddad!"

"Which one are you?!"

"This is Kaycie...your favorite."

"Oh Kaycie!  I knew that!  Where are you?"

"I'm in Utah."

"Well..you sound like you're right next door!"

Every time.  Without fail.

And I could totally just hear his voice while typing that.

He would always ask about work, music, church, etc.

And since I've been married he's added: "How's my man, Alex?" to his repertoire.

*Granddad told us all we were his favorite, but then tell us not to tell our sisters.

*Granddad called me "kayc" and I loved it.  Lots of people do call me that, but for some reason I thought it was extra cute when he said it.

I could go on and on and on...but I won't.

It's been hard being away from my grandparents since high school.

I wish I could see them more, especially in these last few years.

The last time I saw my Granddad was at my wedding.

Even though it was hard for them to get there from FL, I'm so grateful he was able to at least meet Alex and be there for this special time in my life.

I really do hate that he will never get to spend time with Alex in this life, because I think they would have really enjoyed each other.

I miss you Granddad.

Words cannot express how much you mean to me.

Thank you for your example of hard work, the value of education, humor, and being a great grandparent.

I love you so so much.

We are going to Florida for his funeral on May 12.  I am so excited to go be with my family, spend time with my Grandma, and share the joy of my grandparent's property with Alex.  Even though it's a poopy reason to go, I'm still happy for this trip.